Sept. 21, 2007

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ----- A trio of players won opening round matches - all in straight sets -- here Friday to highlight the UAB men's tennis team's performance at the UTC Baras Fall Classic.

In opening their '07 fall schedule, the Blazers got first round wins from sophomore Thomas Petrich and freshman Tyrone Ewels in the "B" division while senior Adrian Tollstam was a winner in the "C' flight.

Petrich, from Herrischried, Germany, was impressive in his first match of the tournament as he ousted the tournament's No. 1 seed, Andres Amores of Jacksonville State, 6-4, 6-4. He will now go against Andy True of Western Kentucky in Saturday's quarterfinals.

Ewels, a first-year player from South Africa seeing his first collegiate action, downed Christian Thobo-Carlsen of Lee, 7-5, 7-5. He will now meet Chris Duke of Jacksonville State Saturday in quarterfinal play.

Tollstam also was a round of 16 winner as he defeated Vadim Ivanis of Eastern Kentucky, 6-3, 7-6, in the "C" division. Tollstam now plays Steffen Solomon of Jacksonville State, 6-4, 6-0.

Tollstam also teamed with Hans Spangenberg in doubles as the Blazer pair defeated Western Kentucky's Andy True and Chad True, 8-6, in the "A" division.

Spangenberg didn't fare as well in singles as the No. 1 seed fell in a tight match in his first round action by Arsel Kumderelli of UNC Greensboro, 7-6, 7-6. UAB's Alex Emery also lost his opening round match in "A" division, falling 6-3, 6-4 to Peter Sauska of UTC.

The Blazers' Miquel Artero dropped a three-set decision in the "C" division to UNC Greensboro's David Lupinetti, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Artero and Petrich won their first doubles match, taking an 8-3 victory in "B" division over David Bowman of Western Kentucky and Gordon Rudell of UTC. They lost in the quarters, however, as they were defeated 8-4 by the tandem of Thomas Bellman of Jacksonville State and Josh Cummings .

In "A" doubles, Emery and Ewels lost to UNC Greensboro's Kumderelli and Martin Redelinghuys, 8-6.

Play resumes for the Blazers Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at the Champion's Club tennis complex.